ENVIRONMENT—COAL SEAM GAS PROJECTS

The Leader of the Australian Greens (Senator Bob Brown), pursuant to notice of motion not objected to as a formal motion, moved general business notice of motion no. 72—That the Senate—

(a) opposes the Santos and British Gas coal seam gas projects approved by the Government;

(b) calls on the Government to ensure full compensation to farmers and other existing businesses which lose productivity due to these projects; and

(c) requests the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities to table on or by 16 November 2010 all papers, reports, advice, findings or other documents relating to the Government's assessments of those projects.

Senator Colbeck, by leave, moved the following amendment:

Omit paragraphs (a) and (b).

Statement by leave: Senator Colbeck, by leave, made a statement relating to the matter.

The question for the amendment was divided—

Statements by leave: Senator Macdonald and the Leader of The Nationals in the Senate (Senator Joyce), by leave, made statements relating to the matter.

Question—That paragraph (a) be omitted—put.

The Senate divided—

AYES,59

Senators—

Abetz

Carr

Furner

Parry

Adams

Cash

Hogg

Payne

Arbib

Colbeck

Hurley

Pratt

Back

Collins

Hutchins

Ronaldson

Barnett

Conroy

Johnston

Ryan

Bernardi

Coonan

Joyce

Scullion

Bilyk

Cormann

Kroger

Sherry

Birmingham

Crossin

Ludwig

Stephens

Bishop

Farrell

Macdonald

Sterle

Boswell

Faulkner

Marshall

Troeth

Boyce

Feeney

McEwen (Teller)

Trood

Brandis

Fielding

McGauran

Williams

Brown, Carol

Fierravanti-Wells

McLucas

Wortley

Bushby

Fifield

Moore

Xenophon

Cameron

Forshaw

Nash

NOES, 5

Senators—

Brown, Bob

Ludlam

Milne

Siewert (Teller)

Hanson-Young

Question agreed to.

Leave refused: Senator Bob Brown sought leave to amend the motion.

An objection was raised and leave was not granted.

Statements by leave: Senators Williams, Colbeck, Bob Brown and Xenophon, by leave, made statements relating to the matter.

Statement by President: The President made a statement relating to the procedures for formal motions.

Question—That paragraph (b) be omitted—put.

The Senate divided—

AYES,57

Senators—

Abetz

Cash

Hurley

Payne

Adams

Colbeck

Hutchins

Pratt

Arbib

Collins

Johnston

Ronaldson

Back

Conroy

Joyce

Ryan

Barnett

Coonan

Kroger

Scullion

Bernardi

Cormann

Ludwig

Sherry

Birmingham

Crossin

Macdonald

Stephens

Bishop

Farrell

Marshall

Sterle

Boswell

Faulkner

Mason

Troeth

Boyce

Feeney

McEwen

Trood

Brandis

Fierravanti-Wells

McGauran

Williams

Brown, Carol

Fifield

McLucas

Wortley

Bushby

Forshaw

Moore

Cameron

Furner

Nash

Carr

Hogg

Parry (Teller)

NOES, 7

Senators—

Brown, Bob

Hanson-Young

Milne

Xenophon

Fielding

Ludlam

Siewert (Teller)

Question agreed to.

Senator Bob Brown, by leave, amended the motion to read as follows:

That the Senate requests the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities to table on or by 16 November 2010 all papers, reports, advice, findings or other documents relating to the Government's assessments of the Santos and British Gas coal seam gas projects.